Inspired by the energy surrounding the Women’s March in Connecticut last year, Jillian Gilchrest decided to challenge longstanding Democrat Andy Fleischmann for the 18th House nomination.

“After the last election in 2016, a lot of folks became energized. I myself got involved in the Women’s March and a lot of people were talking about, ‘How do we harness the energy?’ and I said, ‘It’s not about harnessing it, it’s about directing it,’” Gilchrest, a Democrat, said.

Gilchrest’s entry reflects a local and national trend that has seen an increase in women running for office since the marches that took place across the U.S.

Fleischmann is expected to secure the party endorsement and pursue a 13th term. With that in mind, Gilchrest said she and her supporters are ready to push for a primary in August.

Gilchrest said the “unwritten rules” in the West Hartford Democratic town committee — that she wait until the incumbent is ready to step down before running — is another reason she’s ready for a primary.

“In West Hartford there is this sense of if you grew up here, there’s just this good ol’ boys network and a lot of the people who have lived here their whole lives are in that political line,” Gilchrest said. “… Usually I’m not considered that young but in this system I’m seen as a young woman and inexperienced. I’ve held some really powerful positions and moved legislation through the General Assembly, have served on a number of boards, I’ve organized groups of people, so I don’t feel like I need to wait in a predetermined line. I think the voters get to decide.”

Democratic town committee chair Jonathan Slifka said the town committee isn’t holding anyone back from seeking office.

“Anyone who wants to run for an office is certainly welcome and entitled to do so and the town committee at least under my leadership has never obstructed anyone from running for office that has ever wanted to,” Slifka said. “It’s unfair for her to call us a ‘good ol’ boys club’ when our mayor, deputy mayor and state senator are all women, and half of my executive committee is women and … at least 40 percent of our town committee is women, I think her comment is unfair.”

Gilchrest, 36, moved to West Hartford about 10 years ago and is currently the director of health professional outreach at the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence,. She focuses her attention on gender-based violence work, she said.

"I bring a fresh perspective that I think will be helpful in the complications with the budget."— Jillian Gilchrest

Originally from Cornwall, N.Y., she and her husband graduated from UConn, found jobs and stayed in West Hartford. They have two children, an 8-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter at Morley Elementary.

She served two years on the school board from 2013 to 2015 when Charter Oak was being rebuilt and advocated for before- and after-school care for kindergarten and pre-k students.

“I bring a fresh perspective that I think will be helpful in the complications with the budget,” Gilchrest said. “I am an advocate for social justice issues and I engage people in the political process.”

She’s critical of Fleischmann’s leadership as a state representative on a number of committees.

“He’s held those positions for more than a decade and look at the state of affairs here in Connecticut,” Gilchrest said. “… There’s a real problem in the state and so him touting his leadership when his leadership hasn’t helped the problem, I think we need a change. … Time and again, when I speak to people I hear that he doesn’t call them back. I experienced that myself as an advocate at the legislature.”

Nancy Cocchiola, a longtime West Hartford resident, said she met Gilchrest over a year ago and her initial impression hasn’t faded — she wants to help beyond what she does for social justice issues. She’s grown to know her through the WeHa huddle, a monthly group meeting for women to talk about current events and staying involved.

“I support her for many reasons, I do think we need some new viewpoints in town and I think the incumbent has sat on his laurels,” Cocchiola said.

Peter Casolino / Hartford Courant

West Hartford-- Long-time incumbent Andy Fleischmann speaks at a town council forum at West Hartford Town Hall as he seeks support for the 18th District race for State Senator. Peter Casolino / Special to the Courant

West Hartford-- Long-time incumbent Andy Fleischmann speaks at a town council forum at West Hartford Town Hall as he seeks support for the 18th District race for State Senator. Peter Casolino / Special to the Courant (Peter Casolino / Hartford Courant)

Fleischmann, 54, says it’s his experience and connections at the Capitol that will continue to benefit his roughly 25,000 constituents living in the northeastern portion of town. He said endorsements from Mayor Shari Cantor, Deputy Mayor Beth Kerrigan, Sen. Beth Bye, and Reps. Derek Slap and Joe Verrengia should solidify trust in his candidacy.

Cantor said that while she respects women who want to make a difference, and noted the work Gilchrest has done, it is Fleischmann’s experience and leadership that secured her endorsement.

“We need representatives in leadership positions and that’s where he is — he’s the chair of education and sits on appropriations,” Cantor said. “Andy is in the best position to serve West Hartford with his leadership and experience.”

A state representative the last 23 years, Fleischmann works as President and CEO of Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters on Laurel Street in Hartford. He lives in town with his wife and two daughters. He’s pursuing a 13th term because he said there’s a lot “up for grabs” this fall.

“We have one of the most wide-open races for governor in the history of our state, or any state, some are raising questions about what’s going to happen with control of the state Senate and the state House and the state budget picture remains difficult,” Fleischmann said. “I realized that as much as I believe I have been effective in working with the rest of our delegation and my cogs in the legislature to defend West Hartford’s best interests over the few years of challenges, the hard times aren’t over.”

Fleischmann worked in the office of the state controller office for about four years, worked on health care policy where he said he developed familiarity with the pension obligations and state employees’ retirement system.

In his role as the House chair of the education committee since 2005, Fleischmann said the committee modified education funding to assist districts on the downside of the achievement gap. Fleischmann said there are efforts underway now to control the cost of special education services.

"The last time I checked someone being brand new to a legislative body did not give them any advantage in winning budget battles."— State Rep. Andy Fleischmann

Fleischmann says the biggest budget driver is the state employee and teachers’ retirement pension obligations. He said the first step is having a governor ready to work “hand in glove” with the legislature, teachers, and state employees to address those rising costs. He also said it it is time to refinance the retirement system.

For the state budget, Gilchrest said she thinks the state has been budgeting “based on where we want to be and not where we are.”

Gilchrest said she thinks the education cost-sharing formula, which distributes about $2 billion a year to local school districts, needs to be fixed and “not based on political agreements and disagreements.” She supports the idea of tolls and thinks there’s a need for tax reform, getting rid of a tax on social security benefits and putting a tax on sugary drinks — a way to protect the aging population and the young. She said she thinks it is “just bizarre” for legislators to have pensions.

Fleischmann also supports tolls.

He doesn’t think the state government is too big. She agrees that state government isn’t too big but that there are efficiencies to look into.

Peter Casolino / Hartford Courant

West Hartford-- Jillian Gilchrest chats before speaking at a town council forum at West Hartford Town Hall as she asks Democrats to back her in the 18th District race for State Senator. Peter Casolino / Special to the Courant

West Hartford-- Jillian Gilchrest chats before speaking at a town council forum at West Hartford Town Hall as she asks Democrats to back her in the 18th District race for State Senator. Peter Casolino / Special to the Courant (Peter Casolino / Hartford Courant)

To be more business-friendly, Fleischmann said local business owners he’s spoken to say transportation infrastructure is key, and connecting area businesses with community colleges and the technical high school system.

To be more business friendly, Gilchrest said the state could institute policies like those for paid family and medical leave and look at the tax structure. She said there needs to be a focus on building up Connecticut cities, looking to place like Durham, North Carolina which is re-purposing old factory buildings.

When asked about Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s leadership in the state, Fleischmann simply said: “I am not a fan.”

Gilchrest said she thought Malloy shined on social justice issues and “made due with an already difficult situation.”

While Gilchrest isn’t optimistic about an endorsement from West Hartford Democrats, her campaign is planning to get signatures to petition for a primary and the support, she says, is there.

Her reach in the community has garnered enough financial support to qualify for the Citizens’ Election Program, which provides public financing to candidates. Grant funding won’t be announced until after party endorsements this month.